Top-dog volunteer

Our volunteers are “paws”itively the BEST! Their time, love, and talents help us achieve our mission of transforming lives by partnering people with custom-trained assistance dogs. Today we’d like to honor long-time volunteer Julie.

Julie has dedicated over 13 volunteer years to FSD and considers herself a dog person with a passion for making a difference. Before volunteering for FSD, Julie helped raise puppies for an organization in Pennsylvania. After moving to Colorado in 2009, she quickly discovered FSD and jumped into various volunteer roles. 

When asked why she chose FSD, she shared, “I have a soft spot in my heart for veterans. My father was a WWII veteran. It is an honor to help veterans AND to work with dogs—two things so near and dear to me.” 

Julie’s volunteer roles include training dogs, caring for mamas and puppies in the nursery, and fostering dogs during weekends. 

Since 2021, Julie has fostered six dogs. She prefers taking home two dogs at once and fosters them on weekends until they graduate from the program. Our weekend foster program provides our dogs in training a little R&R and downtime. The time away from the training facility allows the dogs to be, well, dogs. 

One of Julie’s fondest volunteer memories includes attending a graduation ceremony. “Hearing the struggles of these veterans and how their dogs continue to help them integrate back into society made a huge impact on me.” 

Julie strongly encourages those considering volunteering with FSD to give it a try. “As my life changed, so did the ways I volunteered with FSD. There is something for everyone, no matter your interest or availability.” 

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Want to help out, but not ready to commit to puppy raising? FSD is seeking more weekend foster volunteers who live in the metro Denver area! LEARN MORE